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Brigham Young University | Rulon L. Bradley Chapter | PRSSA

Volume 1 Issue 1

In this issue:

President’s Message: Why Should You Become a Member of PRSSA?By: Steve Martin

Scholarship OpportunitiesPRSSA National

The Beginning of a Legacy By: Matt Hopkins

Building Your Future on the Present By: Jared Gay

The Key to NetworkingBy: Chuck Krebs

Teaming Up With Teens ACT: A Community Relations Effort By: Michelle Rubio

Staff: Nick Barnes Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Smith Layout AssistantCopy Editor

Contributors: Steve Martin Chapter President

Jared Gay VP of Member Services

Michelle RubioVP of Community Relations

Chuck Krebs VP of Professional Development

Interested in writing for The Pitch?

Contact Nick Barnes at nickbarnes@byu.edu

The 2010-2011 Rulon L. Bradley Chapter of PRSSA, Closing Banquet

President’s Message: Why Should You Become a Member of PRSSA?By: Steve Martin, Chapter President

After the last of the caps and tassels fall back to the Marriott Center floor every graduation day, two types of people stand among the

newest BYU Alumni: graduates with jobs and graduates without. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) exists so all of us can associate ourselves with the first group of graduates. With the largest network of PR pre-professionals, access to multiple Fortune 500 companies and a nationally acclaimed award-winning chapter, BYU is well equipped to help any serious BYU public relations student succeed. PRSSA members have access to the online PRSA Jobcenter with available communications positions spanning the globe. The Jobcenter currently has more than 2,200 postings from organizations including Mastercard Worldwide, Facebook, Taylormade Golf and even the Indianapolis Zoo. With discounts on PRSA membership, graduating BYU PRSSA seniors will not only have a plethora of possible PR positions from which to choose, but also an array of seasoned professionals from 110 chapters representing 16 different professional sectors from which they can network. With fields of interests including (but not limited to) Corporate Communications, Non-profit and Entertainment & Sports, there is a Master Yoda for every PR Padawan. Aside from a great national and international network, BYU PRSSA has strong relationships with many of the local powerhouse firms, including Intrepid, Richter 7, The Summit Group and PPBH. There is great talent and advice right here in Utah Valley, as well as in the north valley. Like last year, our chapter will continue to nurture these relationships by touring agencies, inviting representatives as guest speakers and entering

the available firm-sponsored contests, among other endeavors. But why wait until the eleventh hour to prepare? In this industry, experience is key. Unfortunately, even if one possesses the qualifying skills, previous experience is generally required for employment. Through the internship section on the PRSSA website, any first-year or second-year student can gain the necessary experience by connecting with the right organizations that are looking for interns. Some examples include Apple in Cupertino, CA and a company who is looking for an intern for their office in Beijing. Bradley PR, a PRSSA nationally affiliated student-run firm, can provide any willing student opportunities to gain experience without even having to leave the Brimhall Building. But, you may be asking yourself, what if I’m just now applying to the program? Will I be left out? PRSSA benefits pre-comms students in ways that teachers and classes cannot. PRSSA membership grants students instant access to peers who have already taken the classes, completed the case study and passed the interview. All the current membership had to start

somewhere, and the chances are it was as a pre-communications student. But, aren’t there people who have succeeded without being a member of PRSSA? Sure. But why pass up the invaluable connections and experiences provided by PRSSA? This group provides necessary information, interactions and networking opportunities to get students from their current spot to employment. I firmly believe membership is well worth the $69 annual fee. I feel that I have received my money’s worth. Without PRSSA, I would not be where I am professionally. It was because of my relationship with the chapter president that helped strengthened my relationship with my Bradley PR Account Director at the time. Because my Account Director knew who I was and knew that I was willing to work hard, he chose me to help with a particular client, who paid for our flight to New York for our client’s national convention. While in New York, I became friends with Jeff Dubois, Bradley PR’s lab manager, who in turn has continuously put me to work on many great clients available through Bradley PR. These clients helped me establish a solid resume and portfolio, which was the deciding factor for Goodman Media International of New York, the company that selected me as an intern this past summer. I now have two pages of solid public relations experience, and an open position waiting for me in New York. This, and more, could be available to you. I have studied long hours for Dr. Wilson’s tests. I have turned in a 421 project late and only received partial credit. I have stayed up until the early hours of the morning working on Bradley PR assignments. I know how it feels, but I have also tried to use every available resource to get me where I am today. The 2011-2012 Executive Board is dedicated to helping you accomplish your goals. Graduating with employment options seems like a daunting task, but don’t worry: you are a part of BYU’s outstanding Rulon L. Bradley chapter. Welcome to PRSSA.

Scholarship Opportunities Chester Burger Scholarship for Excellence in Public Relations

Deadline: October 17, 2011

Award: $1,000

This scholarship was created to encourage graduate public relations students to pursue careers in corporate public relations, with the goal of making the public relations function more essential to the successful achievement of corporate goals consistent with the public interest, the precepts of sound business and the needs of key stakeholders.

EligibilityCandidates must be enrolled or continuing in a graduate studies degree program in public relations, journalism or related fields, effective fall 2011. Candidates must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.

Candidates do not have to be a PRSSA member to apply. The award may be used at any U.S. college or university offering a graduate program in public relations or related field. Entries will be judged by a committee of three senior public relations professionals, each of whom will represent one of the three founding organizations for this award.

To apply for this award, go to www.prssa.org and select “scholarships and competitions” on the top bar. The Chester Burger Scholarship is listed on the right side of the website.

The Beginning of a Legacy By: Matt Hopkins, VP of Public Relations

Last year, the BYU PRSSA chapter won the most outstanding chapter award out of more than 300 chapters in the United States and

Argentina. This award is evidence of the hard work and dedication of the members, professors and advisors involved in this chapter. It is our responsibility as PR students to continue the legacy that is BYU public relations. When outside observers see the work of our PRSSA members they will think, “this is what PR looks like.” BYU’s Rulon L. Bradley PRSSA Chapter, established in 1969, was the 17th chapter in the nation. The history and legacy of this chapter is second to none. Since its foundation and its subsequent renaming in honor of Bradley in 1986, when it added the student-run Bradley Public Relations agency, the BYU Chapter of PRSSA has won numerous awards. The Bradley Public Relations agency has won multiple awards as the top student-run

firm in the nation. Our students have worked in internships across the nation, including internshis at the PRSSA offices. Our students have served as editor-in-chief positions for the PRSSA national newsletter, The FORUM. Our professors have served in national boards. Our current faculty advisor, Professor Susan Walton, currently serves as a Director-at-Large on the PRSA national board. Who will be the next BYU students to serve in a national PRSSA position? Who will be the next students to land amazing internships all over the country? Who will be the next students to create comprehensive portfolio pieces through the opportunities provided to them by the Bradley Lab and PRSSA? It’s you! You are the new legacy. It is upon the shoulders of those examples such as Rulon L. Bradley and those who have gone before us that we stand; but we cannot just stand, we must reach and continue to pull ourselves up so that those who come after us can reach new heights. Decide now that you will honor those who have gone before us by utilizing all the opportunities offered through this unique program.

The 2010-2011 Rulon L. Bradley Chapter at National Conference receiving the top chapter award.

LeadershipThe ability to lead; the ability to guide, direct

or influence people

Building Your Future on the Present By: Jared Gay, VP of Member Services

The challenge with stepping into the future is that the future is anything but concrete. Fortunately, the future is rooted in the past,

and some past network of supporting relationships has brought you to where you currently stand. Well done. You are a student at Brigham Young University. You have friends and mentors that have helped you get this far. But how do you move forward? Who can help you know where you want to go next and help you get there? The network you build within PRSSA will provide you with the (1) vision and (2) experience to help you step into the future you want.

VISION I always wonder where I will be five years from now. Will I be working in public relations? Will I be successful? Will I love my job? The whole reason I decided to study public relations was that it seemed to combine all of my interests. I had already taken all of the prerequisites for the business major, but I didn’t feel like business was quite right for me. So I began taking PR classes in a somewhat aimless pursuit of graduating. Fortunately for me, representatives from PRSSA came to my prerequisite communications classes to help open my eyes to the kind of future I could have. I remember sitting in Comms 211 wondering who these students were and if joining a school club could really be of value to me. Hours later, as I was sat in Comms 235, in walked the same students with the same invitation to join PRSSA. Two visits in one day made it clear that these students meant business. I consequently signed up for PRSSA, attended the meetings and gradually came to understand the passion driving these older students. These students had a vision beyond acceptance into the PR program and beyond graduation. They had career goals and plans that brought heightened meaning and brightness to their education.

The friendships I developed through PRSSA helped open my eyes to the possibility of doing something great after graduation, and the need to get involved now. Are your eyes open? Do you see the opportunities around you?

EXPERIENCE We don’t live in a world where students can graduate from college and simply expect employers to throw offers your way. Simply graduating from the public relations program will not place you above the crowd. The relationships you build amongst your peers and professors will become the source of defining experiences you need. Whether you volunteer with the promotion of a holiday service event, dedicate yourself to the Bradley Agency or run for a position on the PRSSA Executive Board, none of these opportunities will be available without the support of others. Be aware that once you start to build good relationships, however, an overabundance of opportunities will present themselves. You must decide how you will use your time to define yourself. The most important step you take is the first one. As soon as you start taking advantage of the opportunities readily available to you, the wheels in your head will start turning, doors will open, and you will begin knowing what path of activities and programs you should travel.

The Key to Networking By: Chuck Krebs, VP of Professional Development

Networking with professionals – locally, nationally and throughout the world – is a major advantage of being an active

member of BYU PRSSA. This year you will be able to start your career networking and exploring public relations outside of the classroom through Interlock and Utah Valley PRSA. Interlock is a mentorship program that matches you with a local professional. Interlock is designed to get you into the office and mind of a real public relations practitioner while still in school. Learning about public relations in the classroom is a great way to develop skills needed to practice. But Interlock allows you to develop a friendship with someone that practices PR every day of his or her working life. Working with these professionals will give you a look into the future and enable you to get a glimpse of what you will be doing for the rest of your career. Through PRSSA you also have an opportunity to get involved with the PRSA chapter of Utah Valley and attend their lunch meetings at a discount price. The meetings are always an incredible opportunity to learn about every day PR and meet the top professionals in the area. Utah

THE NETWORKING KEY Having the vision of what you are capable of will keep you moving forward, and the experience you gain will open doors, but what is the key to building a network of relationships that makes it all happen? Last semester, Gary Dixon, the president of The Foundation for a Better Life, spoke at one of the PRSSA dinners. He spoke about how valuable his network of mentors and friends have been in his life. He said that the key to building a successful network is simply becoming the kind of person that does what you say you are going to do. You will be asked to take on certain tasks as you move forward, but when co-workers, fellow students or employers see that you consistently do what you say you are going to do, their trust and reliance on you will increase. PRSSA is the place to start building this network. The time to know and work with your fellow students is now. Start building your vision of what lies ahead and start gaining the experience that will take you there. Take on challenges and complete them. This is a wonderful organization to be a part of. I look forward to getting to know you and working with you.

Teaming Up With Teens ACT: A Community Relations Effort By: Michelle Rubio, VP of Community Relations

Valley PRSA meets every month over lunch and offers a generous discount to all PRSSA members. In August, Utah Valley PRSA had Eric Hawkins of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Public Affairs Department discuss how the LDS Church reacts to “Mormon moments” in the media. These backstage glimpses of public relations practitioners enhance and round out a PR education in a way that can’t be done through case studies and group papers in the classroom. Public Relations students often thrive with the opportunity to meet new people. With Interlock and Utah Valley PRSA you can meet those people that will take you forward in your career and will be able to provide the first step up. The difference between students who receive jobs and those who don’t upon graduation can often hinge on the quality of relationship built at the beginning of your time in the major. Public Relations is a career dependent on nurturing relationships and your first job will grow out of the relationships your make and nurture throughout your time at BYU. PRSSA allows you to meet those people. Make sure you get involved with Interlock this semester and you will receive email reminders about Utah Valley PRSA meetings.

Paving the road to professionalism is challenging enough for the average student, but take away resources and motivational

support, and it becomes a struggle to even finish high school. In fact, according to Projects in Education, three out of ten teenagers drop out of high school in America. These dropouts are more likely to come from low-income families and indulge in criminal behavior. However, with organizations such as Teens ACT and Upward Bound, high school students are motivated to aspire to higher goals and do well in school. “I never had a peer mentor, and that’s one of the reasons why I wanted to start this organization,” said Dayan Bernal, founder of Teens ACT. “The young people need to see great people out in the community willing to serve them.” This fall, PRSSA members will partner with Teens ACT and write workshops to teach students how to improve their professionalism, how to

Aside from 2011, in what year was the Rulon L. Bradley Chapter of PRSSA chosen to receive the Top Chapter Award?

Submit your answers to nickbarnes@byu.edu, all correct answers will be entered into a drawing to receive a candy bar.

network and how to write persuasively. “We want to branch out and help not only the well-established institutions, but help train the future leaders of those organizations,” said Stephen Martin, president of PRSSA. Next January, PRSSA volunteers will then teach workshops at local high schools that will not only help high school students with their future jobs, but also with college applications. “Public speaking is something we would like the students to learn more because it’s an obstacle for them,” Bernal said. “They need to better represent themselves and learn how to speak to authority figures, how to approach their teachers, organizations, universities and how become involved in healthy relationships.” The professionalism workshops will aid and reinforce some of other courses already offered such as career exploration, scholarship application writing, ACT preparation and more. Teens ACT targets students with limited resources, emphasizing on Hispanic, African-American and Pacific Islander teens — especially if they are the first potential college student in their family. Their model not only offers courses for students, but also for parents to help them foster an educational environment in the home. However, because most students involved in programs such as Teens ACT and Upward Bound are minorities, the pool of cultures and upbringing can sometimes create some conflict. “Social change has to start with the mind first, it starts with social consciousness, some minds are programed a certain way and some are determined by society,” said Victor Narsimulu, the UVU coordinator of Upward Bound. “Having students exposed to workshops and training to help them reconstruct these norms is a way to bringing change.” Narsimulu has worked with several teens in the community through Upward Bound, a nation-wide organization that targets first generation college students. This organization not only provides college preparation assistance, but also emphasizes the importance of working hard and learning the ‘system.’ “You have to build networks and capital to success and everyone’s success is different, but it all starts with

education—then you define success,” Narsimulu said. To help at-risk youth reach their definition of success, PRSSA members are also planning on participating at some activities with Upward Bound in the near future. This interaction with both Teens ACT and Upward Bound will prepare high school students with a competitive college application and give PRSSA members an opportunity to address some of the important needs in their community. “People sometimes get excited to go to Africa to help, but they don’t see the people in America that are also unfortunate—they see them as lazy,” Narsimulu said. “It’s almost a romantic concept to go to Ethiopia to say I’m helping sick people, except people don’t see there are needs in their own community.”

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BYU Public Relations Student Society of

America

Meet the Executive Board

Steve Martin President @mr_steve_martin

Melissa Connor VP of Fundraising @melissa913

Matt Hopkins VP of Public Relations @matt_hopkins

Jared Gay VP of Member Services@jaredclarkgay

Chuck Krebs VP of Professional Development @charleskrebs

Michelle Rubio VP of Community Relations @michellearubio

Dallin Hatch VP of Finance@Dallinhatch

Nick Barnes Editor-in-Chief @neekbarnes